A Place Like This

The Winter Edition and the Most Incredible Giveaway

 
Swedish lights2  The new Rhythm of the Home edition is out today. It is filled with the light, warmth , and love that winter brings. ROTH is starting it's second year, and this issue is full of the most wonderful ideas and special moments to create for you, your family, and loved ones.

An enormous thank you goes out to Bernadette, Heather, and Julia for the incredible work they do putting this mag e-zine together.

Again I feel honored to share company within the pages of ROTH. Getting ready for an edition of ROTH is recreating many wonderful memories of our traditions and having the opportunity to share them with so many  kindred spirits   Truly, I feel abundantly blessed.

One of my favorite festivals of the year is St. Lucia. It was so much fun to let you have a peak into our family tradition.

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photo by Per Svangren

Being the youngest daughter among many meant I never got to wear the St. Lucia crown. The tradition states that the eldest daughter of the household is the St. Lucia.

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photo by Per Svangren

The one requirement I had when I became a mother was that every child in my house would have a St. Lucia crown if they wanted it. Inside the winter edition I put together a St. Lucia crown made of wool roving. Nice and soft for little ones who also would like to feel  they are bringing light into the darkest time of the year.

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Last but not least, The Rhythm of the Home Blog is hosting a giveaway from many Winter Edition authors. Don't miss out on your chance to win a real St. Lucia crown with LED lights, wishing cookies, and a very special book. Among these things are many more treasures. Leave a comment here for your chance to win. For an extra chance to win, post about the giveaway on your blog .

I wish you many cherished moments in the wonderful season of Winter. Be well friends.

Valarie Budayr Avatar

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Valarie Budayr
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16 responses to “The Winter Edition and the Most Incredible Giveaway”

  1. suzanne Avatar
    suzanne

    Hello dear Valarie
    Last year my Mother knitted a beautiful St Lucia for my home. I too love the tradition and love the way you made a crown for each. I would have done the same. I love coming here to peek into your family life and traditions…I hope you are cosy and enjoying your colder days. I can imagine some craft in your hand , a cup of tea and a book~…
    Love to you Valarie
    Suzanne
    X

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  2. Moment to Moment Avatar
    Moment to Moment

    Ohh this post brought back so many memories of growing up in Denmark where we would celebrate this every year. Since coming to the states I have not yet brought this lovely tradition into our home, but I am looking forward. Thank you for reminding me.
    Warmly,
    Christina

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  3. Carin Avatar
    Carin

    I love, love love St Lucia Day! I think it’s so sweet that you have made a Lucia crown for every child. The tradition of only the oldest wearing a crown seems to be going away in Sweden, at least I don’t remember it being a big deal when I was growing up, but maybe my mother was like you. I do remember getting really peeved that only the super pretty girls got chosen to be Lucia at school though- I was sick and tired of wearing tinsel every year by the time I left school. Btw, if you check my blog archive from Lucia last year, you’ll see a great youtube clip of a Lucia procession in Sweden. It gives me chills every time.

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  4. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    I was just pulling out my Lussekatter recipe and I thought of you. Such a treat to read about the traditions you grew up with.

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  5. Ren Lady Of The Arts Avatar
    Ren Lady Of The Arts

    It never ceases to amaze me how we are all so different and yet all the same- I love your festival of light celebration.

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  6. one pink fish Avatar
    one pink fish

    I am going to be soing a lesson in my kindergarten class on St. Lucia and need a book suggestion. If I missed the title of the book, my appologizes. Can you email me the author and title to a really good book on St. Lucia for children (ages 5-6)? Thanks.
    onepinkfish @ yahoo dot com

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  7. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Greetings. I do have a couple of book suggestions for your St. Lucia celebration. The first is Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydåker and Carina Ståhlberg. The second is Lucia and the Light by Phyliis Root and Mary Grandpre. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need other titles.

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  8. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hi Ren, All of us here are wishing you and yours a Happy Hannukkah.

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  9. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hi Nancy. That’s so sweet that you thought of me when you pulled out your recipe. Tomorrow I’m baking many Lussekatter for St. Lucia coming up in exactly 13 days. Enjoy the season.

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  10. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hej Carin,
    Jag tycker mycket om om om om Lucia! I really think when my parents immigrated to the States that time stopped for them. So in Sweden the traditions became more and more flexible but my parents kept things like they were the day they left Sweden. I love this youtube clip and also put it on my blog last year. Isn’t it fabulous. This year we are connecting the laptop to the T.V. to see St. Lucia i Dalarna. You can find it on SVT. SE on Lucia morning. It’s so beautiful and it runs for an hour. I’m so glad you like Lucia as much as me. 😉

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  11. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hej Christina,
    Welcome to this space here. I stopped by your blog and it’s so wonderful. St. Lucia is such a wonderful family tradition. The nice thing is one can make it very simple with just lussekatter or fancy with a whole procession. Enjoy your celebration.

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  12. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hi dear Suzanne, you have a vivid picture of how things are here. I have a cup of tea and many projects on the table and in my lap and of course stacks of books everywhere. I hope your summery season has started and that you are preparing wonderfully for this very fun season. Be well friend. Big hugs to you!
    love,
    Valarie

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  13. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    I LOVE your piece Valerie, and I just think that it is wonderful that we were able to have a piece on such a special day. As always, we are honored to have you join us.

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  14. Ag Ambroult Avatar
    Ag Ambroult

    I think I learn something every time I read your blog. Your felt St Lucia crown is adorable. As the baby of my family, I’m glad you changed the tradition, too.

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  15. Kate England Avatar
    Kate England

    Congratulations on being published in ROTH, Valarie!
    One of my Twitter buddies is an American with Swedish ancestors. I recently translated my recipe for lussekatter for her, but had some trouble with the kesella. I replaced it with ricotta and hope that works. Have you experimented with this? I

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  16. dog beds Avatar
    dog beds

    Love the coming of wintertime. Not just the approaching holidays, and the chance to be with family and friends, but the transformation of the weather and the landscape — the blanket of snow, the Husky bounding through it in her glory, the cats leaping and plunging through the drifts like dolphins on the waves. And everybody’s got something to make to honor the season — a craft, a special recipe. Love it.

    Jack@PDB

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